Tech Tools (TT) Cutting Mat versus Cheaper Cutting Mats

[brockrwood]

I have purchased several cutting mats of various sizes over the years. I own “Fiskars”, Westcott”, and “TT” (TechTools) brand mats.

What I have found is that the TT mats are demonstratively superior to other brands. They are thicker snd they self-heal quite well.

But they are more expensive. About twice as expensive as a cheap cutting mat from the Walmart sewing and crafts aisle.

So I use a smaller (and less expensive) TT mat when I need its desirable qualities and the el cheapo mats when I just need a bigger cutting area.

Just a tip to make model rocket building a bit easier.

 

[SolarYellow]

I am pretty happy with my OLFA mat. Pretty much any product I've ever used from OLFA has been awesome.

 

[David Schwantz]

menards hobby board. 2x4 size. 4 bucks. they are fiber, self heal, can be cut, nailed and screwed down.

 

[Hobie1dog]

menards hobby board. 2x4 size. 4 bucks. they are fiber, self heal, can be cut, nailed and screwed down.

I wish we hard those stores down here in the south. I still use the Fiskars I bought about 5 years ago and will never wear it out with the time I have left.

 

[brockrwood]

I wish we hard those stores down here in the south. I still use the Fiskars I bought about 5 years ago and will never wear it out with the time I have left.

Dang. Closest Menard’s is in Cheyenne, WY. That’s a bit of a drive. Does Lowe’s or Home Depot sell something similar?

@David Schwantz

 

[Pinetree]

I use a $1 piece of poster board from Dollar General, flip it over at some point, and then toss it.

 

[Pinetree]

Note: There's no adult supervision at my house, and nobody (especially me) cares if the workbench gets cut up.

Your situation may vary.

 

[brockrwood]

I use a $1 piece of poster board from Dollar General, flip it over at some point, and then toss it.

View attachment 599200

Nice tube fin rocket!

Also, that is an impressive collection of what appears to be CA glue. You always have the right viscosity handy!

When not building rockets I am guessing you play some electric guitar.

And a nice Hakko soldering iron. I have workbench envy!

 

[Pinetree]

I play guitar, fix guitars and amps, and I'm pretty involved with RC airplanes. Thanks.

 

[neil_w]

I use a $1 piece of poster board from Dollar General, flip it over at some point, and then toss it.

View attachment 599200

What are those nozzles on the TB Quick and Thick?

 

[tsmith1315]

Note: There's no adult supervision at my house, and nobody (especially me) cares if the workbench gets cut up.

As it should be!

 

[Pinetree]

@neil_w Those are just the ones they come with and the caps are on.

 

[neil_w]

@neil_w Those are just the ones they come with and the caps are on.

If true it means they changed them again since I bought mine… 3rd different nozzle on a glue that has had at least 3 different names…

 

[rharshberger]

@neil_w Those are just the ones they come with and the caps are on.

Interesting, my Q&T has different style nozzles, the flat ones with a removable plug/cap.

 

[Pinetree]

Well, I don't mean to thread hijack but every thread is a glue thread, right?

 

[neil_w]

Hmm, I like those.

 

[Pinetree]

They're really nice for fillets.

Bought from Walmart.

 

[Spitfire222]

I can confirm that Titebond Q&T appears to have had a nozzle update, as the most recent bottle I purchased has the new, conical tip, which I do prefer compared to the older "linear" wedge one.
To stay on topic, I tend to prefer a main 18" x 24" cutting mat, and I've grown to like/appreciate having a secondary, small one that I can move around easily. It's handy if I need to work on something small without interrupting something on the main work area. Brands don't seem to matter to me, I've used Fiskars and Excel and they both work just fine for me.

 

[David Schwantz]

Brookwood, I would think that HD or Lowes would carry something like that. It is near the ceiling panel stuff at Menards.

 

[Greg Furtman]

menards hobby board. 2x4 size. 4 bucks. they are fiber, self heal, can be cut, nailed and screwed down.

David, I went to the Menards website and looked for hobby board but did not find what you described. Do you have a Menards part number? Or a link? Thanks.

 

[Greg Furtman]

I wish we hard those stores down here in the south. I still use the Fiskars I bought about 5 years ago and will never wear it out with the time I have left.

@Hobie1dog , I hope you try your damndest to wear the Fiskars out!

 

[anbhtblr]

Hobby Lobby carries the TT Cutting Mats. The sizes are up to 18" x 24". The reviews are not great.

 

[SolarYellow]

We do a fair number of 11x17 prints at work. Lots of them are drafts or get reprinted for one reason or another. I make a habit of keeping prints that don't have sensitive info on them out of the recycle bin and use them as work bench protectors. Not for cutting, but they are great for gluing/painting/marking/cleaning/lubing all sorts of items. Use them once and drop them in the trash. No need to clean anything. Can even mix epoxy right on them.

 

[Back_at_it]

US Art Supply off Amazon. $40 lasts me about 3 yrs. before need to turn it over and use the other side. I've only replaced mine once since returning to the hobby 6/ 7 yrs ago.

 

[David Schwantz]

Greg in truck, not home till friday.

 

[afadeev]

US Art Supply off Amazon. $40 lasts me about 3 yrs. before need to turn it over and use the other side. I've only replaced mine once since returning to the hobby 6/ 7 yrs ago.

+1 on US Art Supply mat.
I've been using a 24"x36" version for both hobby cutting, and as a table-top in front of my personal computer, since 2017.

Paid $30 for it in 2017, now a 5-ply, double sided (green, black) is $42 from Amazon

If I really need to go Eddie Kruger, I overlay an 8x12" TT matt on top. No idea where I got it, or how much I paid for the TT mat. Whatever it was, it's more expansive now.

​

 

[brockrwood]

The “Westcott” brand cutting mat from Walmart does have one nice feature. Little dots on the grid to help line up stuff.

 

[Greg Furtman]

This is slightly off topic maybe but a good, comfortable and controllable hobby knife is very important too. I have two classic Exacto knives with the round knurled aluminum handle. I wanted a more comfortable & controllable hobby knife and did some searching. Fiskars makes a SoftGrip knife with a triangular shaped handle with a detent on the top for my index finger. It is the best knife I have found so far. And it won't roll off the table like the round ones do.

https://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-Soft...locphy=9019407&hvtargid=pla-350241882443&th=1

 

[ep29030]

I have an old Hobbico 24x36 mat that I got years ago at a hobby shop. It heals very well, but it was not cheap.

 

[Pinetree]

I put heat shrink tubing on my X-Acto knife, plus I make a small bend in the end of the handle so it doesn't roll too far.